Blackberry plant named ‘DrisBlackTwentySix’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of blackberry plant named ‘DrisBlackTwentySix’, particularly selected for its yield, fruit size, and fruit flavor, is disclosed.

Botanical classification: Rubus L. subgenus Rubus.

Varietal denomination: The varietal denomination of the claimed varietyof blackberry plant is ‘DrisBlackTwentySix’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Blackberry is the common name for a multitude of plant species bearingdark purple to black aggregate fruit in the genus Rubus of the familyRosaceae. Most blackberries are within the subgenus Rubus.

Native chiefly to the northern temperate regions, blackberries are nowbeing cultivated as a valuable fruit crop in many areas of the world,particularly in Europe, North America and Central America, Recognizedfor their high contents of antioxidants, dietary fiber, vitamin C, andvitamin K. Blackberry fruit are typically consumed as fresh fruit,individually quick frozen fruit, or in prepared foods, such as purées,juices, jellies, jams, grocery items, baked goods, and snack foods.

Globally, Mexico is the leading producer of blackberries, with nearlythe entire crop being produced for export into the off-season freshmarkets in North America and Europe. The Mexican market is almostentirely from the cultivar ‘Tupi’ (also spelled as ‘Tupy’). In theUnited States, Oregon is the leading commercial blackberry producer,followed by the state of California.

Blackberries are perennial plants that typically bear biennial stems(known as “canes”) from a perennial root system. The two cane types areprimocanes, or first-year canes, which are usually vegetative, andfloricanes, which are the same canes and produce fruit in the nextgrowing season. In its first year, a new cane, the primocane, growsvigorously to its full length of three to six meters in a growth habitof erecting, arching, or trailing along the ground and bearing largecompound leaves with 3, 5, or 7 leaflets; it does not produce anyflowers. In its second year, the cane becomes a floricane and stopselongating, but the lateral buds break to produce flowering lateralsthat bear fruit.

Recently, primocane-fruiting blackberry varieties have been developedthat are capable of flowering and fruiting on first-year canes.Primocane-fruiting blackberry varieties have several advantages,including potential of two crops on the same plant in the same year,reduction in pruning costs by mowing of canes, avoidance of winterinjury, and production of fruit in an extended geographic area. However,primocane-fruiting blackberry varieties are also subject to a number ofchallenges, such as poor heat tolerance, lesser fruit quality, and lowyield.

Blackberry is an important and valuable commercial fruit crop.Accordingly, there is a need for new varieties of blackberry plant. Inparticular, there is a need for improved varieties of blackberry plantthat are stable, high yielding, and agronomically sound.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to meet these needs, the present invention is directed to animproved variety of blackberry plant. In particular, the inventionrelates to a new and distinct variety of blackberry plant (Rubus L.subgenus Rubus), which has been denominated as ‘DrisBlackTwentySix’.

Blackberry plant variety ‘DrisBlackTwentySix’ was selected in CiudadGuzmán, Mexico in January of 2016 and originated from a cross betweenthe female parent proprietary blackberry plant ‘BR382.2’ (unpatented)and the male parent proprietary blackberry plant ‘BR502.2’ (unpatented).The original seedling of the new variety was first asexually propagatedvia root cuttings in Ciudad Guzmán, Mexico in January of 2016.

‘DrisBlackTwentySix’ was subsequently asexually propagated via rootcuttings, and has undergone testing in Ciudad Guzmán, Mexico from 2015to 2021 (six years)(variety was under evaluation before being selectedas a candidate variety in 2016). The present variety has been found tobe stable and reproduce true to type through successive asexualpropagations via root cuttings and tissue culture.

‘DrisBlackTwentySix’ was particularly selected for its yield, fruitsize, and fruit flavor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

This new blackberry plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtainedby conventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of plantsthat are three years old.

FIG. 1 illustrates flowers (upper row) and fruit (lower row) of variety‘DrisBlackTwentySix’ at various stages of development.

FIG. 2 illustrates the central third section of a cane of variety‘DrisBlackTwentySix’.

FIG. 3 illustrates the lower surface (left) and the upper surface(right) of leaves of variety ‘DrisBlackTwentySix’.

FIG. 4 illustrates an upper surface view of a mature flower of variety‘DrisBlackTwentySix’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of‘DrisBlackTwentySix’. The data that define these characteristics arebased on observations taken in Ciudad Guzmán, Mexico from 2015 to 2021.This description is in accordance with UPOV terminology. Colordesignations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptionsmay deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending uponvariation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions.‘DrisBlackTwentySix’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The botanical description of‘DrisBlackTwentySix’ was taken from plants that were three years old.The indicated values represent averages calculated. from measurements ofseveral plants. Color references are primarily to The R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2015edition). Descriptive terminology follows the Plant IdentificationTerminology, An Illustrated Glossary, 2^(nd) edition by James G. Harrisand Melinda Woolf Harris, unless where otherwise defined.

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Rosaceae.        -   Botanical.—Rubus L. subgenus Rubus.        -   Common name.—Blackberry.        -   Plant variety name.—‘DrisBlackTwentySix’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary blackberry plant ‘BR382.2’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Proprietary blackberry plant ‘BR502.2’            (unpatented).-   Plant:    -   -   Propagation.—Root cuttings and tissue culture.        -   Growth habit.—Upright to semi-upright.        -   Height.—188.1 cm.        -   Width.—75.4 cm.        -   Height/width ratio.—2.49.        -   Vigor.—Medium.        -   Self-fruitfulness.—Self-fruitful.-   Canes:    -   -   Internodal distance.—3.305 cm.        -   New cane.—Strength: Very strong. Glaucosity (waxy bloom):            Medium.        -   Dormant cane.—Anthocyanin coloration: Absent. Predominant            distribution of branches: Over whole length. Cross-section:            Angular. Spine: Presence of spines: Present. Length:            5.15 mm. Width: 1.871 mm. Color: RHS 144A (Strong            yellow-green). Density of spines on central third of cane:            Dense. Surface texture: Rough. Flexibility: Rigid. Attitude            of spine apex in relation to cane: Downwards.        -   Young shoots.—Length: 69 cm. Diameter: 0.844 cm. Anthocyanin            coloration (during rapid growth): Absent. Color of young            shoot: RHS NN137B (Greyish olive green). Number of glandular            hairs: Absent or few. Time of young shoot emergence:            Mid-April.        -   Fruiting lateral.—Fruiting lateral length (4^(th) lateral            from tip): 33.81 cm. Number of fruits per fruiting lateral:            11.1.-   Leaves:    -   -   Time of leaf bud burst.—Mid-March.        -   Leaf.—Predominant number of leaflets: During strong            vegetative growth, the predominant number of leaflets is 5,            whereas during leaf bud burst the predominant number of            leaflets is 3. Type: Palmate. Relative position of lateral            leaflets: Overlapping. Arrangement: Opposite. Venation:            Reticulate. Vein color: RHS 1.46A (Moderate yellow-green).            Color of upper side: RHS NN137A (Greyish olive green). Color            of under side: RHS 146B (Moderate yellow-green). Profile in            cross-section: Concave (margins rolled inwards). Glossiness            of upper side: Medium.        -   Leaflet.—Type of incision of margin: Bi-serrate. Depth of            incisions: Deep.        -   Terminal leaflet (for both those leaves with three leaflets            and those leaves with five leaflets).—Length: 8.47 cm.            Width: 6.24 cm. Length/width ratio: 1.357. Lobing: Absent.            Shape in cross-section: U-shaped. Undulation of margin:            Absent or very weak. Blistering between veins: Strong.            Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Doubly            serrate.        -   Lateral leaflet (single leaflet in basal pair)(for both            those leaves with three leaflets and those leaves with five            leaflets).—Length: 7.83 cm. Width: 5.14 cm. Length/width            ratio: 1.523. Shape: Oval. Apex: Convex. Base: Obtuse.            Margin: Serrate.        -   Rachis (length between terminal leaflet and adjacent lateral            leaflets).—2.22 cm.        -   Petiole.—Length: 6.092 cm. Diameter: 2.701 mm. Color of            upper surface: RHS 144A (Strong yellow-green). Color of            under surface: RHS 144A (Strong yellow-green).        -   Stipule.—Length: 0.939 cm. Width: 1.725 mm. Color: RHS 146A            (Moderate olive green). Orientation: Erect.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Flower bud.—Length: 9.046 mm. Width: 7.35 mm. Color: RHS 62D            (Pale purplish pink).        -   Flower.—Diameter (mature flowers): 54.312 mm. Number of            flowers observed at 3^(rd) node from tip of lateral: 7.6.            Fragrance: Very faint or absent.        -   Petal.—Length: 26.69 mm. Width: 17.17 mm. Length/width            ratio: 1.55. Number of petals per flower: 9.1. Color of            upper and lower side: RHS NN155D (White). Shape: Orbicular.            Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.        -   Sepal.—Length: 8.934 mm. Width: 5.53 mm. Color: RHS 146B            (Moderate yellow-green). Number per flower: 5.        -   Flower pedicel.—Length: 53.72 mm. Diameter: 1.599 mm. Color:            RHS 144A (Strong yellow-green).        -   Inflorescence peduncle.—Length: 47.104 mm. Diameter:            4.002 mm. Color: RHS 146C (Moderate yellow-green).        -   Reproductive organs.—Style: Length: 7.56 mm. Color: RHS 149D            (Pale yellow-green). Ovary: Color: RHS 149C (Brilliant            yellow green). Stamen: Length: 1.05 mm. Color: RHS 145C            (Light yellow-green). Pollen: Color: RHS 146A (Moderate            olive green).        -   Time of beginning of flowering on previous year's cane            (floricane).—Mid-January to mid-February.        -   Time of beginning of flowering on current year's cane            (primocane).—Mid-July to mid-August.-   Fruit:    -   -   Length of mature fruit.—37.304 mm.        -   Diameter of mature fruit.—21.605 mm.        -   Ratio of length to width.—1.72.        -   Primocane fruit weight.—13.2 g/fruit.        -   Floricane fruit weight.—9.5 g/fruit.        -   Sweetness/soluble solids (in °brix).—13.01.        -   Titratable acidity (% as citric acid).—1.51%.        -   Glossiness.—Strong.        -   Firmness.—Very firm.        -   Fruit shape in longitudinal section.—Long conical.        -   Fruit color.—RHS 202A (Black).        -   Drupelet (single drupe).—Length of drupelet: 4.77 mm.            Diameter of drupelet: 4.49 mm. Average number of drupelets            per fruit: 106.9.        -   Seed.—Diameter: 1.79 mm. Weight: 0.011 g/seed. Color: RHS            165A (Moderate brown).        -   Flavor.—Sweet with low acidity.        -   Fruiting on current year's cane (primocane).—Present.        -   Harvest interval on previous year's cane            (floricane).—Mid-March to mid-May.        -   Harvest interval on current year's cane (primocane).—Early            September to mid-December.        -   Yield.—17,750 kg to 29,450 kg of fruit per hectare per            season from 12-month-old plants when grown in Ciudad Guzmán,            Mexico.        -   Market use of fruit.—Fresh market.        -   Shipping and storage characteristics.—Following harvest,            fruit can be stored for 7 days if maintained under cooled            temperatures that are standard for blackberry storage.-   Resistance to pests and diseases:    -   -   Powdery mildew (Podosphaera macularis).—Moderately            resistant.        -   Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum).—Resistant.

COMPARISONS TO PARENTAL AND REFERENCE BLACKBERRY VARIETIES

‘DrisBlackTwentySix’ differs from the female parent ‘BR382.2’(unpatented) in that ‘DrisBlackTwentySix’ has improved flavor and largerfruit size as compared to ‘BR382.2’.

‘DrisBlackTwentySix’ differs from the male parent ‘BR502.2’ (unpatented)in that ‘DrisBlackTwentySix’ has improved flavor and larger fruit sizewhen compared to ‘BR502.2’.

‘DrisBlackTwentySix’ differs from the reference variety‘DrisBlackThirteen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,681) in that‘DrisBlackTwentySix’ has absent anthocyanin coloration on dormant cane,spines are present on dormant cane, U-shaped cross-section of terminalleaflet, and long conical fruit shape in longitudinal section, whereas‘DrisBlackThirteen’ has medium amount of anthocyanin coloration ondormant cane, spines are absent on dormant cane, V-shaped cross-sectionof terminal leaflet, and medium ovate fruit shape in longitudinalsection.

‘DrisBlackTwentySix’ differs from the reference variety‘DrisBlackSeventeen’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,291) in that‘DrisBlackTwentySix’ has absent anthocyanin coloration on dormant cane,predominant distribution of branches over whole length of dormant cane,downwards attitude of spine apex in relation to cane, and long conicalfruit shape in longitudinal section, whereas ‘DrisBlackSeventeen’ hasweak anthocyanin coloration on dormant cane, predominant distribution ofbranches only on upper half of dormant cane, upwards attitude of spineapex in relation to cane, and medium ovate fruit shape in longitudinalsection.

What is claimed is:
 1. new and distinct variety of blackberry plantdesignated ‘DrisBlackTwentySix’ as shown and described herein.